Newcastle Jets Youth went within a whisker of causing a considerable upset in the PS4 National Premier League (Northern NSW) on Sunday, despite Edgeworth FC ultimately claiming a 4-2 win.
Jets Youth fell behind early to a Keigo Moriyasu penalty however hit back through a Tom Waller header to make the score 1-1 at the break.
An impressive finish from Cameron Joice following an incisive pass by centre forward Kristian Brymora put Clayton Zane’s charges 2-1 up midway through the second stanza, and from there the junior Jets looked as if they could well stun the league’s table-toppers at their home ground.
But the Eagles, who will face Far North Queensland Heat in the Round of 32 of the 2016 Westfield FFA Cup, produced a fight back in the last 10 minutes of the game to ensure that they remained in first place on the PS4 NPL NNSW standings.
Aden Gardner’s strike on the angle levelled the match at 2-2, before Jets Youth gave away a second penalty in the game, which was again converted by Japanese import Moriyasu.
Moriyasu then struck a sizzling free kick beyond Pierce Clark late on to claim his hat-trick and ensure that all three points would remain at the Eagles’ nest.
Jets Youth, who have shown considerable improvement throughout their 2016 NPL NNSW campaign, are currently fifth from ten teams with six games to play.
Zane’s boys will play their next match against fourth-placed Maitland FC at Cooks Square Park on Saturday 9 July. Kick-off is at 2:30pm with lower grades played beforehand.
